Monday Bird Droppings
by Camden Chat on Feb 1, 2010 8:34 AM EST
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PrintThe links are late, but they're good!
Sources: Colorado Rockies reach deal with Melvin Mora
"The Rockies believe that he might be energized by a fresh start." You know what? I hope they're right. -Stacey
Official farewell for O's Mora - baltimoresun.com
Dan Connolly gives Melmo a nice goodbye and Melvin says all the nice things. -Stacey
New ... and improved? - baltimoresun.com
MacPhail did what he said he wanted to do this off-season, but how much difference will it really make? Dan Connolly and several national writers decide that if the Orioles improve it will be based on their young players. That's for that breaking insight, fellas. -Stacey
Koji, Berken, and Hernandez
Anyone speak Japanese? If so you can enjoy this video on Koji. It appears to be very nice. The music is very uplifting at any rate, at least until they started playing Love in this Club. Also, Kranitz approves of putting young potential starters in the bullpen. -Stacey
Camden Depot: Connecticut would do good for a bad team.
Camden Depot takes a look at the idea of the Rays moving to another location. -Stacey
Talkin' baseball on WNST
For those of you who missed it, here's the link to the recording. Sorry to those playing the Felix Pie drinking game; if I could do it all again I'd definitely go all Robin Scherbatsky on you. -Stacey
UPDATE: One more that just came out this morning....
Baltimore Orioles need to draft and trade well to contend - Ben Reiter - SI.com
Ben Reiter likes where the O's are headed. -zk
She wants casual... Okay, I'll be casual. I'm gonna be a mushroom cloud of casual. You know why? 'cause it's a game. I wanted to skip to the end and to the Open Thread thing. But you don't get there, unless you play the game.
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Just want to give a congrats to Stacey, if that's the right word...
I listened to about 10-15 minutes of it. Stacey was definitely the smartest person on the air.
Also, I am ordering my authentic Orioles stirrups this Friday, and the sewing and shipping will take about 4-6 weeks (a hell of a long time). I’ll let you guys know how that goes. I’m gonna be wearing a pair on Opening Day (Hopefully we’ll have shorts weather) , and I’ll have the rest in my van in the parking lot under lock and key.
off topic – Anyone ever have anything stolen from your car at OPaCY? I usually leave the van unlocked because I never have anything of value there. My friend left his keys in the ignition one time and got his car stolen from M&T Bank though.
The stock market will never recover, our armies will never again be #1, and our children will drink filthy water for the rest of their lives - HST
why on earth
would you leave your van unlocked ever?
I will lead these Peoples to the promised land, also known as "Slightly Ahead of the Blue Jays." ~WietersRunDry
Dude, I live outside of Fruitland, on a road with no lines on it
and no cable, and WE lock our cars when we’re home. It’s 2010. Join the rest of us.
"The moment you stop thinking you're the best, it's time for you to get out the game." -'King' Mo Lawal
I also leave my windows down a lot in the summer!
What I said above wasn’t written the right way. I actually do roll up the windows and lock the car in Baltimore. Just not really anywhere else. The way I see it, the van is worth maybe $600, (my insurance says $1300 if I wreck it though) , and the sound system is like $60 and I need a new one anyway. What’s gonna happen?
The stock market will never recover, our armies will never again be #1, and our children will drink filthy water for the rest of their lives - HST
by the fix is in on Feb 1, 2010 1:24 PM EST up reply actions
someone steals it and you have to buy a new car that costs more than $600?
I will lead these Peoples to the promised land, also known as "Slightly Ahead of the Blue Jays." ~WietersRunDry
We have a winner
Think replacement cost, not current value.
"The moment you stop thinking you're the best, it's time for you to get out the game." -'King' Mo Lawal
or move to Middlebury, VT, where no one locks the door and the frickin’ mailman walks into your living room to hand you your mail, oblivious to the fact that you are visitor from the real world who is renting the place and are somewhat surprised to see a mailman in your damn living roon. Yeah, it happend (fall semester 1999— and I’ll bet nothing’s changed).
In Moscow, I zipper-lock my pockets in church.
"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." Churchill,1942-- a rebuilding year.
In Soviet Russia, church tithes you?
Cry havoc and unleash the Esskay hot dogs of war! - The Wayward Oriole, Opening Day 2008
by Eat More Esskay on Feb 1, 2010 3:49 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Yakov-- you're back!
Waht a kahn-tree!
"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." Churchill,1942-- a rebuilding year.
If, however, the Orioles disappoint this season, then MacPhail will continue on with his Rockies-inspired plan — trading expiring assets for future stars, drafting intelligently, locking up his young stars, selectively adding veterans — until it is time to strike.
Drafting well, signing young stars to extensions, and selectively adding veterans is now dubbed the Rockies’ plan. Give me a break.
Vizzini: Let me put it this way. Have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates?
Man in Black: Yes.
Vizzini: Morons.
I'd like to add
that regardless of how the Orioles perform in 2010, MacPhail should still draft intelligently, trade expiring assets for future stars, lock up his young stars, and selectively add veterans. Heck – do it every single winter for ever. That whole article was so obvious and simple it made my eyes cramp up from rolling.
Bedard says he doesn't care and thinks goals are pointless.
I wish he would wrote an article about how the Rays, Rangers, and Mariners have all improved their teams significantly in a cost efficient manner by simply focusing on defensive metrics. Instead, we sign Tejada and Atkins.
Vizzini: Let me put it this way. Have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates?
Man in Black: Yes.
Vizzini: Morons.
I see the validity in the Rays argument (making it to the WS and all), but what would they write about either the Rangers or the Mariners? Finishing 10 games and 12 games out of 1st and 8 games and 10 games out of the wildcard respectively in 2009? Yeah it was much better than the year before, but how do we know it’s repeatable? And even if it is repeatable, does it matter if they don’t make the playoffs?
The Rangers were going to get the wild card, then we helped them implode.
Don't give up, don't ever give up. - Jim Valvano
by BaltimoreSportsFan on Feb 1, 2010 4:10 PM EST up reply actions
I think TEX wins the ALW this year.
And Chris Davis sets a world strikeout record by whiffing 400+ times. Mark it down.
Don't let the sunshine fool ya. - Townes Van Zandt
Can't win games unless you score
I dare say Tejada will produce more runs than his defensive superior would prevent.
"The moment you stop thinking you're the best, it's time for you to get out the game." -'King' Mo Lawal
Maybe, we’ll see how things play out. But Tejada isn’t cost efficient.
Vizzini: Let me put it this way. Have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates?
Man in Black: Yes.
Vizzini: Morons.
Who the fuck cares?
Not Angelos or MacPhail, who are the only two people that matter in this deal.
"I'd like to do something. We all would here," he added. "As I've said before, you just don't want to do anything stupid that you're thinking in May, 'What in the God's green earth was I thinking about?'" - Andy MacPhail 12/8/09
I don't consider cost efficiency goal #1.
Winning games is. Sometimes, they don’t work well together. When they do, great. When not? I’d rather win games.
"The moment you stop thinking you're the best, it's time for you to get out the game." -'King' Mo Lawal
to both Duck and getxstoked
Cost efficiency can aid winning though. For example, if you’re improve run prevention in a cost-efficient, that leaves more money to spend somewhere else.
Vizzini: Let me put it this way. Have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates?
Man in Black: Yes.
Vizzini: Morons.
Again, who the fuck cares?
Considering the options, Miggi’s ability to play everyday is better than Joe Crede’s inability to play more than a week without needing major back surgery
"I'd like to do something. We all would here," he added. "As I've said before, you just don't want to do anything stupid that you're thinking in May, 'What in the God's green earth was I thinking about?'" - Andy MacPhail 12/8/09
In other words, if you can get someone else to do Miggy’s job when considering both run production and run prevention at a cheaper, then you use that money else where.
Vizzini: Let me put it this way. Have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates?
Man in Black: Yes.
Vizzini: Morons.
at a cheaper rate
And, this of course, someone combing cheap talent for a strong defender sort of like the way jack zduriencik found Franklin Gutierrez.
Vizzini: Let me put it this way. Have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates?
Man in Black: Yes.
Vizzini: Morons.
But there's no one cheaper who will do as well
If you scrimp and save a field a team full of .270 hitters with good gloves instead of .290 hitters who are OK defensively, it’s going to catch up with you. You’ll lose a lot of 4-2 and 3-1 ballgames that way. Sure, you only allowed 3 runs, but you only scored 1. How does that help?
"The moment you stop thinking you're the best, it's time for you to get out the game." -'King' Mo Lawal
But there’s no one cheaper who will do as well
Well, that’s an empirical question. Considering that Tejada is projected to give 1 or 2 wins above replacement (PETOCA bumped us up one win after signing Tejada!), I would rather take a chance on a youngish guy who’s hasn’t been given a chance (think something like Dallas McPherson although I don’t think he’s great defensively either but his bat could show some potential if given some patience). Personally, and I’m not sure if this is possible, I would have moved Orlando Hudson or Felipe Lopez to 3rd. Both have terrific gloves, are cheap, and doubt they would be much difference in production between them and Tejada. Not sure if their arms could handle 3rd though. But at least it’s out of the box thinking.
And thanks for engaging my comments in a substantive manner Duck!
Vizzini: Let me put it this way. Have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates?
Man in Black: Yes.
Vizzini: Morons.
not all of that is always true
you’re right in that it’s obvious, every team should draft intelligently and lock up their young stars. but the other two points you make are not always true.
trading expiring assets for future stars is only something rebuilding teams do. I’m pretty sure the Red Sox, for instance, weren’t shopping Jason Bay this past July. the point of the article was that the O’s should continue trading expiring assets for future stars until they become a contending team, at which point that might not be as smart of a strategy (of course, there are some offers you can’t refuse; I would have taken that Bedard haul no matter what the situation)
and similarly, “selectively adding veterans” is done to different degrees based on where you are on the win curve. teams that are completely blowing themselves up – like the Pirates right now – should only add veterans to plug gaping holes. it’s better to stick a random 28 year old guy from AAA into a position, than to sign a 35 year old guy to play that position, if the 28 year old guy has any chance of being a contributor – see Garrett Jones. at the next stage – where we are, rebuilding but also starting to look at the win-loss statistics – you might need to be more aggressive in pursuing veterans. this is also where the Mariners were last season – they signed the likes of Griffey and Mike Sweeney not because they would produce or had upside, but because they provided a veteran presence and all that.
then, of course, when you’re entrenched as a contending team, you’ll add veterans whenever they’re a significant upgrade, even emptying the upper minors to do so (unless you’re a tiny-market team that can’t afford to do this – like the Mariners and the Rays).
I thought the Rockies' plan
was continuing to play in an awful division and hope that they can cobble together enough mediocre talent to push past the other collections of mediocre talent and then be eliminated in the first round the of the playoffs?
Yeah, that's pretty much it
Welcome to the NL West where 83 wins against mediocre competition means you, too, can print playoff tickets!
"The moment you stop thinking you're the best, it's time for you to get out the game." -'King' Mo Lawal
I hear Joe Mauer is signing an extension
Not that it is surprising. He is pretty much Minnesota personified. Raised in St Paul. Anyway, the word on the radio is that they have agreed on an extension. People in Yankeeland will not be happy. They have been talking about signing Mauer to replace Posada for over a year.
Thats good for everybody
Mauer needs to stay in Minnisota. Teams should be able to keep the face of their franchise.
"I have seen the future and his name is Matt Wieters." Keith Law
by Reddrummer9187 on Feb 1, 2010 4:56 PM EST up reply actions
and, y'know...
given this news, it’s funny to see the above wrt macphail and the o’s. before the rays and the rockies, didn’t macphail build a nice little team in minnesota out of homegrown talent and crafty vet signings?
"If they pitch to you, make them pay."
--Diamond Dave to the Phenom
Thank God!
1 more player they can keep their grimy hands off of. They’ll probably just sign Jayson Werth and Cliff Lee next season :(
by LoveForTheGame13 on Feb 1, 2010 2:46 PM EST reply actions
Happens to the best of us...
"The moment you stop thinking you're the best, it's time for you to get out the game." -'King' Mo Lawal
A forever O's fan
I have only been alive since 1954 and so have the O’s I keep getting older and as it always happens this time of year my thoughts drift to …….What If ?……..for the upcoming season. It is filled with much hope and promise as it is every year at this time….We are still tied for 1st. This year is going to be different I feel that very strongly as McPhail has done a pretty good job at least as far as getting us on a good compass heading in the general direction of the W mark which i hope translates into a lot of production from our core of healthy good young players………..So going into the Spring of 2010 there is hope for better things to happen this year………What IF ??
btw...
millar signed w/ the cubbies.
"If they pitch to you, make them pay."
--Diamond Dave to the Phenom
Good for him
I like the idea of him still playing if he wants to and still can. Seems like a good guy, ands no reason to hate, especially if he’s in the NL.
"The moment you stop thinking you're the best, it's time for you to get out the game." -'King' Mo Lawal
yeah...
there’s something sort of comforting about his existence as a pro. matt stairs, too.
"If they pitch to you, make them pay."
--Diamond Dave to the Phenom
really?
i cant stand him. ever since that whole thing with him cheering for the red sox in the orioles clubhouse.
I'll always hate him for that.
and always love him for this.
"I doubt he could reach [second base]...mostly cuz his fucking arm was in Aybar's nuts." – twistedlogic
eh, reply fail.
"I doubt he could reach [second base]...mostly cuz his fucking arm was in Aybar's nuts." – twistedlogic
Gotta ask
about this line from the Connolly article
“He told me that I have to be ready for any situation, to be ready for any position at any time,” said Mora, who already has instructed his agent to get him a first baseman’s mitt.
Is it normal for players to have their agents buy gloves for them?
You know, he's got 6 kids at home.
Not like he ever gets computer time to jump on Amazon.com or anything…. :)
"The moment you stop thinking you're the best, it's time for you to get out the game." -'King' Mo Lawal
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